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The winner of our Flag Design competition was announced earlier this week. With over 40 remarkable submissions showcasing the incredible creativity and talent of young artists across a variety of mediums - including pencil, pens, paint, and even AI - the judging process was a delightful but challenging task.

A huge thank you goes to our exceptional judging panel for their thoughtful insights and expertise last week onboard The Golden Hinde:

• Christiane Jenkins, Better Bankside Board Member
• Hannah Cunliffe, Director, National Historic Ships UK
  
• Rosie Brooks, Artist, illustrator and local resident
• Toby Millinder, Lead Shipwright, The Golden Hinde

Flag Design Judging Panel onboard The Golden Hinde (from left to right: Christiane Jenkins, Rosie Brooks, Toby Millinder, Hannah Cunliffe)

After much deliberation the winners for each category are:

KS2 Winners:

1st Place: Lois, Year 5, Age 10 

Lois' winning KS2 design featuring "a fancy hat", a pelican, a globe and a hind (female deer)

2nd Place: Adela, Year 6, Age 10

3rd Place: Chada Year 6, Age 10

KS3 Winners:

1st Place: Martha, Year 7, Age 12 

Martha's winning KS3 design featuring an anchor rope, compass rose, seagulls and sea monster

2nd Place: Janka, Year, 7 Age 12

3rd Place: Ariam, Year 7, Age 11

Asked why the judges chose Lois’ design as the overall KS2 winner, they remarked:

“Lois’ design is exceptionally well-executed and meets the brief perfectly. It is striking, with excellent references to the Pelican (the original name of Drake’s ship), a hind (a female deer), and a globe, symbolising Drake’s circumnavigation. It was a unanimous choice for first place in the KS2 category and will work wonderfully as a real flag flying on The Golden Hinde next year.

Lois described how she created her design:

"My flag … is a rectangle divided into four parts by an English flag, showing that the ship was from England. In the top left hand side there is a fancy hat showing Tudor times, and Sir Francis Drake. Below it there is a pelican which is the ship’s old name, and next to it is a globe symbolising how Sir Francis Drake travelled around the world. Above that there is a golden hind which is the ship’s name.”

When asked about their decision to award Martha’s design the top spot in the KS3 category, the judges commented:

“Superb narrative and storytelling make Martha’s design a worthy winner in the KS3 category. Another unanimous choice, it creatively interprets the brief and executes it brilliantly. This design will look fantastic as a real-life flag when it is flown on The Golden Hinde in the new year.”

Martha outlined the inspiration behind her design:

“The Golden Hind went all the way around the world. In my flag design this amazing journey is represented by the anchor rope. It twists and turns but always stays attached to the ship, keeping it safe but also tying it to all the other countries it visited. The compass rose, seagulls and sea monster turn the sea into a map, charting the ship's progress and showing the journey of adventure.”

The top prize for the two first place winners, Lois and Martha, is the opportunity to have their designs professionally crafted into flags that will be flown on The Golden Hinde. These flags will be raised in a special ceremony on Friday, 31st January 2025, where the winners, their families, and school representatives will be invited to celebrate their achievement.

In addition, all winning entries will be featured in a physical exhibition aboard The Golden Hinde in January. This showcase will give visitors the chance to admire the talent and effort behind these extraordinary designs. Keep an eye on our 'What's on' page or social media for more information!

Montage image containing entries to The Golden Hinde 2024 Flag Design Competition